Is the Soul Immortal: Annihilationism and Conditional Immortality in Christian Eschatology
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Brooke Rudow
Abstract
One of the most common philosophical arguments in favor of eschatological annihilationism is that immortality is solely guaranteed by one’s faith in Christ, rather than being guaranteed to all people. The thesis of this argument strikes to the core of universalism and infernalism: Both doctrines hold that the non-saved and saved have immortal souls. Universalism believes all people will eventually be saved and so they must have an immortal soul. Infernalism believes that some people will be saved, and others will not be but will still retain their immortal soul. Annihilationism turns this common assumption on its head and claims that immortality is conditionally guaranteed. If one holds to a punitive form of annihilationism, they may argue that God destroys the soul. If one holds to a non-punitive form of annihilationism, they may argue the soul simply ceases to exist because the person did not accept Christ in their life. Either way, those who do not accept Christ will not be immortal and hence will stop existing at some point in time. In this paper, I examine several arguments in favor of the soul’s immortality and conclude there are both plausible philosophical reasons to believe the soul is unconditionally immortal and there are plausible reasons from the history of Christian doctrine to believe the soul is unconditionally immortal.
Start Date
27-3-2024 11:30 AM
End Date
27-3-2024 11:38 AM
Location
Arts and Sciences 2-75
Is the Soul Immortal: Annihilationism and Conditional Immortality in Christian Eschatology
Arts and Sciences 2-75
One of the most common philosophical arguments in favor of eschatological annihilationism is that immortality is solely guaranteed by one’s faith in Christ, rather than being guaranteed to all people. The thesis of this argument strikes to the core of universalism and infernalism: Both doctrines hold that the non-saved and saved have immortal souls. Universalism believes all people will eventually be saved and so they must have an immortal soul. Infernalism believes that some people will be saved, and others will not be but will still retain their immortal soul. Annihilationism turns this common assumption on its head and claims that immortality is conditionally guaranteed. If one holds to a punitive form of annihilationism, they may argue that God destroys the soul. If one holds to a non-punitive form of annihilationism, they may argue the soul simply ceases to exist because the person did not accept Christ in their life. Either way, those who do not accept Christ will not be immortal and hence will stop existing at some point in time. In this paper, I examine several arguments in favor of the soul’s immortality and conclude there are both plausible philosophical reasons to believe the soul is unconditionally immortal and there are plausible reasons from the history of Christian doctrine to believe the soul is unconditionally immortal.